Permits and approvals

A variety of activities within the marine park require a permit, including:

  • any activities or works that damage, take or interfere with habitat (such as plants, soil, sand, shells or other naturally occurring material) within the marine park including:
    • construction activities including dredging, reclamation, driving posts or piles, construction of boat ramps, seawalls, bridges, pontoons or jetties
    • please note that there are no Private Mooring Areas in the Cape Byron Marine Park
  • commercial activities – including tourism operations but not commercial fishing
  • using personal watercraft (jet skis) or hovercraft
  • organised events (including weddings and competitions)
  • horse riding in permitted areas
  • research
  • collecting for private aquariums
  • aquaculture.

Vessel based whale and dolphin watching

Commercial vessel operators require a permit to conduct whale watching in the Marine Park.

  • Permits will not be granted for commercial vessels to whale watch east of Cape Byron between latitudes 28° 36.9'S and 28° 39.6'S; that is, east of a line from 1 nautical mile north of the northern most extremity of the Cape (Stepping Stones) to 1 nautical mile south of the southernmost extremity of the Cape (Cosy Corner).

Obtain a permit

For activities or works that damage, take or interfere with habitat in a marine park:

Fisheries and marine protected area permit application form (PDF)

Fisheries and marine protected area permit application form (DOC)

Completed fisheries and marine protected area permit application forms should be submitted to: ahp.central@dpi.nsw.gov.au

For all other activities:

Marine parks permit application form

Permit standard conditions

Marine parks permit policy

Completed marine parks permit application forms should be sent by email/post to Cape Byron Marine Park. Please contact your local marine park office if you have any queries regarding marine park permits or application forms.

Development approvals

Proposals for development within or adjacent to the marine park must be assessed under marine estate and planning legislation, and a marine park permit may be required. Contact the marine park for more information.

Other management actions